According to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, a toxic thickening agent has contaminated a Nigerian teething formula. So far, 34 babies have died from the unsafe product.
The deadly toxin has been found in “My Pikin Baby Teething Mixture,” a formula made by a Nigerian company. According to reports, the toxin was mixed in to the teething formula when an official of the Lagos-based maker procured a contaminated ingredient from an unregistered chemical dealer near the city’s main dump.
Several officials of the pharmaceutical maker, Barewa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., along with others suspected of being involved, have been arrested.
Unsafe Product Pulled From Shelves
According to reports, the first related illness was reported Nov. 19, when an infant was taken to the hospital for treatment. During the days following the first incident, several other babies were taken to local hospitals for treatment as well.
The teething formula was recalled immediately, and according to the agency, 2,000 bottles of the formula have been recovered thus far. Of those, 255 were contaminated. They have not indicated how many total bottles have been affected.
Contaminated Formula Caused Serious Injuries
Children who have been exposed to the toxic teething formula have suffered serious injuries, including:
Diethylene Glycol Found in Formula
According to reports, Barewa Pharmaceuticals were told they were purchasing a normal ingredient in teething formulas, propylene glycol, when in fact it was diethylene glycol, which is typically found in products such as:
According to reports, Nigeria has been affected by tainted, contaminated products in the past. In a similar situation, 200 babies died in 1990.
(Source: MSNBC)
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